מָ֝גֵ֗ן
𐤌𐤂𐤍
magen
shield
also (in plural) feminine מְגִנָּה; from גָּנַן; a shield (i.e. the small one or buckler); figuratively, a protector; also the scaly hide of the crocodile; [idiom] armed, buckler, defence, ruler, [phrase] scale, shield.
Proverbs 2:7 · Word #5
Lexicon H4043
| Lemma | מָגֵן |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤌𐤂𐤍 |
| Transliteration | mâgên |
| Strong's | H4043 |
| In-context | shield |
Morphology HNcbsa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | b — Both — Both (masculine and feminine) |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
SIBI-P1 H4043-02
protecting shield
| Root | גנן (g-n-n) |
| Core Meanings | to cover, to surround, to protect, to defend |
| Semantic Range | A small shield or buckler; figuratively a protector or defender; metaphorically of rulers or leaders; poetically of protective scales (e.g., of a crocodile). |
| Conceptual Significance | In biblical theology, "shield" becomes a central metaphor for YHWH as divine protector—one who surrounds and defends His people. The term conveys not only military equipment but covenantal security, emphasizing God’s active, surrounding protection. |
| Morphological Notes | Common-gender singular noun (absolute מָגֵן; construct מָגֵן). No pronominal suffix in the cited forms. Derived noun from the verbal root גנן. |
| Rendering Rationale | The noun מָגֵן derives from the root גנן, "to cover or protect," and denotes an instrument that provides protective covering. Rendering it as "protecting shield" preserves both the concrete image of a shield and the active protective sense inherent in the root. The form is masculine singular (common gender) in absolute or construct state, reflected in the singular English rendering. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root גנן (to cover, to surround, to protect, to defend)
| SILEX Code | Transliteration | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
H1588-01 |
bagan | in the enclosed garden |
H1588-02 |
baganim | in the enclosed gardens |
H1593-01 |
baganot | in the enclosed gardens |
H1588-03 |
began | in the enclosed garden of |
H1588-04 |
gan | enclosed garden |
H1593-02 |
ganato | his enclosed-garden |
|
gani | my enclosed garden |
H5873-01 |
ganim | gardens |
H1593-03 |
ganot | enclosed gardens |
H1593-04 |
ganoteykhem | your enclosed gardens |
H1594-01 |
ginat | enclosed-garden of |
|
ginat | garden-of |
H1599-01 |
gineton | Ginnethon ("Defended-One") |
|
ginetoy | Hedged-Place |
H1588-05 |
hagan | the enclosed garden |
H4043-01 |
hamagen | the covering-shield |
H1588-06 |
kegan | like a sheltered garden |
|
keganot | like sheltered gardens |
H1588-07 |
legan | to a sheltered garden-enclosure |
H1588-08 |
legano | to his enclosed-garden |
H4043-03 |
maginenu | our sheltering shield |
H4043-04 |
maginey | defending-shields of |
H4043-05 |
magineyha | her shields |
H4043-06 |
magini | my covering-shield |
H4043-07 |
maginim | protecting shields |
H1593-05 |
ukheganah | and as a sheltered garden |
H4043-08 |
umagen | and a protecting shield |
H4043-09 |
umaginam | and their protecting-shield |
H4043-10 |
umagini | and my covering-shield |
H1598-01 |
veganoti | and I will hedge-about (in protection) |
H1476-01 |
veguni | and Protected-One |
H1598-02 |
yagen | he will hedge-about (in protection) |
Word Usage (63 occurrences of H4043)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis 15:1 | מָגֵ֣ן | magen | a shield |
| Deuteronomy 33:29 | מָגֵ֣ן | magen | the shield |
| Judges 5:8 | מָגֵ֤ן | magen | shield |